Member to member / We are in a family business – just a very large family

Jackie Chai trained to be a nurse, but then moved on to finance and is now deputy director of finance at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust. Earlier this year we spoke with Jackie at the NHS at 100 round table. She inspired us with her passion for mental health and optimistic view of the future of the NHS and we wanted to find out what brought her to NHS finance and how her clinical background supports her in her daily job.

How did you start your NHS finance journey?

I initially trained and qualified as a nurse in the NHS in Dorset. Due to back problems, I later retrained for a career in finance.

My finance training was done mainly in the private sector but it was always an ambition to return to support the NHS. I came back as the senior costing accountant at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in 1995. It was a great experience drawing on both my clinical and finance background. My NHS career then went on to include working with commissioners in Dorset Health Authority and Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust before I joined my current trust, Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust (mental health and community services). The different NHS sector experiences have given me a system wide view that is really helpful to understand and appreciate the concerns and issues from different parties when I am looking for joint solutions.

Despite all the service pressures, funding issues, difficult decisions, re-organisations and the huge impact this has on all of us (was there ever a year, out of the 70 years of the NHS, when this was not the case?), I still find it really inspiring and satisfying to support this fabulous and outrageous idea called the NHS.

Why did you get involved with the HFMA?

I got involved with the HFMA because of the strong support networks, the well organised and relevant training and development programmes for the NHS finance community. It provided great learning and development opportunities for my finance team at all levels.

I have found the HFMA special interest finance groups valuable as we work collaboratively to understand the changing landscape we work in and its impact. The group works to stimulate debate, share ideas, research and publish best practice approaches. As part of the Mental Health Finance Faculty, I get to hear the latest thinking and initiatives from national mental health leaders. A recent example is the Carter Review on mental health, where we were briefed before the work started and received updates as the work progressed. This was useful as we were able to alert our organisations to the changes ahead.

What’s the most important HFMA member benefit for you?

Throughout my NHS finance career, the HFMA has been an important part of my professional development. I particularly appreciated the personal development programmes (the South West region has been running a developing talent programme for some years and the region has benefited from this) and the technical updates as I progressed in the early part of my career. As I became more senior, I appreciated the networking opportunities, the seminars/conferences that scan the horizons, highlight innovation and best practice, provide inspiring and motivational speakers, and bring together the collective NHS finance leadership to give ‘the state of the nation’ address. Over many years, the HFMA has been central to creating an inclusive, stable, sense of community and support for NHS finance professionals, at all levels and from all organisations. This I believe will become even more important as we face the significant uncertainty and challenges ahead.

You are passionate about mental health. How do you incorporate this in your day-to-day work?

I am passionate about mental health and learning disabilities. It is great to see the progress we have made as a society to combat the stigma and discrimination. After all, 1 in 4 of us are likely to suffer with a mental health condition. We have started to talk more easily about mental health issues and recognise that it is a normal health condition as much as any physical ailment. But yes, we do still have more to do to break down the taboo barriers. In my work place, I am proud to have colleagues who can openly talk about their mental health condition and provide peer support to others. We also had our Aspergers/Autism clinical colleague come to share and raise awareness about people with this unique style of thinking – some of whom have excellent analytical skills and possibly be amongst your teams. Be open. Be informed. Celebrate diversity!

What piece of advice do you have for others in NHS finance/people who are starting their NHS finance journey now?

The NHS is truly an incredible and outrageous idea – very aptly British! Born out of incredible courage in the midst of desperate need.

Those who started the NHS journey in 1948 were amazing pioneers, who left us with an incredible legacy.

Today, all of us on this journey, are amazing pioneers too, as we seek a way through turbulent times and unchartered territory ahead.

Always remember: you are not alone.

There were many before you.

Hopefully, you will pave a way for many to come after you.

You are part of an inspiring group of ordinary people daring to believe, willing to work together, to look after a nation’s inheritance for all our friends and families.

You might say, we are in a family business – just a very large family!

If you are also passionate about mental health, join us at the Annual mental health finance conference to engage in a lively debate and discussion with colleagues from across the country. 

We provide training and development opportunities for NHS staff from all levels. Join our 14,000-strong network today and learn how you can get more involved with your local branch.